20 IAF jets to land on Agra-Lucknow Expressway on Oct 24

Traffic movement on a stretch of Agra-Lucknow expressway will be halted for five days from October 20-24 in the wake of the Indian Air Force’s landing and take-off exercise on the stretch. This will be the first official IAF exercise on the expressway, which was inaugurated in November last year.

According to officials, IAF fighter jets will use the stretch during the day to hone pilots’ skills in using public roads in case of a war-like emergency.

Gargi Malik, public relations officer of Ministry of Defence (Central Command), said, “20 IAF aircraft, both fighter and transport, will participate in the exercise. These will include French Dassault Mirage 2000, Jaguar, Sukhoi 30 MKI and AN-32 transport.”

“The take-off and landing exercise will be performed on October 24, but traffic restrictions will be enforced from October 20 as decided by the state authorities to prepare the stretch for the event,” Malik added.

Last year in November, eight fighter jets landed on the expressway during its inauguration ceremony.

According to Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority, from October 20 to 24, no vehicle will be allowed between milestones 219 to 324 on the expressway. “The traffic toward Lucknow will be diverted from Araul intersection towards Bilhaur trisection. The commuters will driver 23 km towards Bangarmau and then further towards Miyanganj, Hasanganj and Mohan covering 68 km to get back on Agra-Lucknow expressway to cover the remaining distance to the state capital. The same route will be applicable for the commuters heading to Agra from Lucknow,” the authority said in a statement.